Circuit interrupter



Oct. 5, 1943. E, oRTENsl CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER 2 sheds-sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1941 NNN www SVN ATTORE Oct. 5, 1943.

WITNESSES:

E. ORTENSI CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed May 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ving switches, which Patented Oct. 5, 1943 2,331,221 CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Ennio Ortensl, Bergamo, Italy, assigner to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,

a corporation of Pennsyl- East Pittsburgh, Pa.,

vania q Application May 3, 1941, Serial No.

In Italy May z5, 1940 2o claims. (ciano-4s) This invention relates generally to electric circuit-interrupting devices, and more particularly to interrupting devices capable of interrupting load currents and at the same time insert a relatively large visible air gap in the circuit.

In modern electric plants, central stations, substations and the like, the need for a disconnecting switch which is capable of interrupting load currents is recognizedas desirable to avoid the expense of circuit breaker installations, especially where overload circuit interruptions may be taken care of by fuses. VvIn order that a disconnecting switch may interrupt load currents, some sort of arc-extinguishing means should be employed to extinguish the arc struck when the switch is opened. Switches of this type have been devised, but they either have incorporated the arc-extinguishing means in the switch by modifying the switch to provide a relatively complex and expensive structure, or when arc-extinguishing means have been used separated from the switch structure the switch per se has required substantial modification from standard types of switches, and relatively extensive and complex control means have been required.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to f provide a disconnecting switch capable of interrupting load currents and utilizing a standard type of switch construction.-

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for standard types of disconnectis capable of interrupting load currents, and which may be employed with standard types of switches without any substantial modication thereof.

Another object of this a novel type of disconnecting switch which is also capable of interrupting load currents. i

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel type of circuit interrupter having disconinvention is to provide necting and current-interrupting contacts,` with novel means for actuating said contacts in a predetermined sequence.

V These and other objects of this invention willv become more apparent upon consideration of the one embodiment thereof,`

following description of taken in connection with the attached drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 is aside elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the interrupter shown in a closed circuit position; e

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the interrupter in a partlyfopen position; and

Fig. 3 is an enlargedfront view, partly in section, of the interrupter shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The interrupter shown on the drawings is supported on a pair of channel members 2 and 4, re spectively, and these members are, in turn, maintained in spaced relation on an angle iron 6 or the like, which may be welded or otherwise se-r cured to channel members 2 and 4. An insulator 8, which may be of porcelain or the like, has a stud II extending from the base thereof through an aperture in channel 2 to be 'secured thereto, as by the nut l2. Similarly, a like insulator I0 is provided with a stud II projecting'from its base through channel member 4 to be secured thereto by a nut I2. The insulator 8 is provided with a supporting extension I4 fixed thereto, and to which is secured a break contact xture I6. The fixture I6 comprises a base portion I8 secured to the supporting extension I4, for example, as by screws I5, and rigid g pair of break contact jaws 24 for receiving one end of a switch blade. therebetween. The jaws 24 are preferably of some resilient conducting material, such as, for example, copper or a copper alloy. The base I 8 of the break contact iixture I 6 is also provided with an integral extension 20 forming a terminal lug to which a conductor may be secured, for example, as by` the machine screw 22.. f l Insulator I0 is adapted to support at its outer end a supporting casingr 26 for a current-interrupting means. The casing 2B is preferably of some conducting material, and may be of a cast i construction including opposite side walls l28, a rear wall 30 secured to the outer end of insulator III by any desired means, such, for example, as by bolts or the like. The casing 26 is also provided with an open iront wall adapted to be substantially closed by a cover plate 32 secured to the casing by stud bolts 35 and nuts 34. The cover plate 32 is provided with a slot 83 for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. The bottom wall of casing 25 is provided with a substantially circular opening 38, at the outer side of which there is a shoulder 40, formed by the outwardly extending interiorly to cooperate with the exteriorly threaded end of an insulating, tube 42, having an enlarged bore 50 of substantially the same diameter as opening 36 in the bottom wall of casing 26. Insulating tube 42 may be of any desired insulating material, preferably an insulating material. such as nbre, which is capable of evolving an arc-extinguishing gas when in proximity to an electric arc. 'As shown in Figa 3, the enlarged bore 50 of in With base portion I8 are a threaded portion 38, adapted sulating tube 42 terminates short of the lower end of the tube in a reduced bore 44, forming bethe lower end of insulating tube 42 and is ex- 10 Y teriorly threaded as at 56u The lower end of insulatingtube 42 is provided with an end cap 58, and conducting rod 64 is secured in positionwithin insulating tube 42 by a washer 62 and nut'80, which`are adapted to withdraw the shoulder on the rod into firm engagement with shoulder 48 in the insulating tube 42. A second nut 64 is providedy on threaded portion 56 of conductor rod 54 so that a conductor may be secured in conducting relation to rod 54. It should be noted that the enlarged portion 52 of conductor rod 04 is spaced from the inner walls of enlarged bore 50 of' insulating tube 42, and that this portion 52 of the conductor rod extends entirely through the bore and into supporting casing 26.

Current-interrupting contacts for cooperation in any desired manner, and this plug member is with conductor rod 54 are mounted within supy I porting casing 26, and, as shown, these comprise contact arms 66 pivotally mounted at one end in the casing on pivot studs 85, for pivotal movement of the other ends l0 thereof into and out of engagement with respect to the upper end of contact rod 54. Intermediate their ends, the contact arms 86 are provided with rollers it pivotally mounted on pivot pins i2 mounted on the contact arms. Bent resilient spring members i6 are provided for normally urging the contact arms into engagement with the upper end of conductor rod 5G. These springs I6 are bent about pivot studs S5 with one end thereof finding engagement at an upper corner of supporting casing 28, and the other end thereof being in engagement with pivot pins l2.

The top wall i8 of supporting casing 28 is also provided with a substantially circular aperture, j

about which are provided integral upwardly extending guide portions 80 which are spaced, and of arcuate formation, to form a substantially skeletonized circular .guide for a movable insulating tube 82. The tube 82, like tube 42. is preferably of an insulating material which is capable of evolving an arc-extinguishing casing when in proximity to an electric arc. The movably mounted tube 82 is adapted to have anoperating means secured to the upper end thereof, and the front and rear spaces 8| between integral guide members 80 are provided for reception of a portion of such`an operating means, as are the side slots |39 located intermediate the spaces 8|.

In the operation of' the current-interrupting means thus far described. it is apparent that in Vthe movement of insulating tube 82 from` the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the tube will first engage rollers |4 on contact arms 66 to separate these contact arms, and move them away from conductor rod 54, and thereafter move between them down into the annular space between conductor rod 54 and the inner wall of enlarged bore 50 in insulating tube 42. This action obviously will not only interrupt the circuitbetween conductor arms 66 and conductor rod 54, but will also in' terpose an insulating barrier between these conducting members, and any arc struck between the members when they separate will obviously 75 scribed above;

be elongated by movement lof tube 82 into the bore and forced into the relatively small space between tubes 82 and 42 to thereby increase the arc voltage, while at the same time the arc is subjected to a blast of arc-extinguishing gas evolved from the material of tubes 82 and 42, al of which combines to quickly and effectively extinguish any arc formed and thereby quickly and effectively interrupt the circuit. Obviously, the circuit may be readily reclosed by merely moving tube 82 upwardly to the position shown in Figs. l and 3, whereupon springs 16 will move conductor arms 66 back into engagement with conductor rod 54.

The upper end of insulating tube 82 is provided with a plug member 84 secured in the tube provided with an integral extension 86 having an operating pin 88 extending transversely thereof. A substantially U-shaped operating member has the arms 82 thereof disposed on opposite sides of Jinsulating tube 82, and these arms 92 are each provided with an elongated slot 90 for receiving operating pin 88. 'I'he arms 92 of the actuating` 2.,. bracket are connected by a base portion 93 secured in any desired manner to the' outer end of a pivotally mounted insulating member 94, which may be of the same material as insulating supports 8 and i0. The pivoted insulator 94 has the inner end thereof secured to an actuating shaft 86 in any desired manner, and this shaft is, in turn, lrotatably mounted on angle supporting member, 6, and is adapted to be actuated by a crank arm 88 keyed or otherwise se'cured for movement with actuating shaft 86. A supporting bracket |00 is also mounted, as shown, on angle support 6 in any desired manner, such, for

example, as by Welding or the like,and this bracket rotatably supports a shaft |02, to which is keyed or otherwise mounted in fixed relation a toggle link |04 pivoted at its outer end by pivot 688 to a second toggle link |08, and this, in turn, is pivoted as at 88 to the outer end of insulator crank arm 98. .Also keyed or otherwise secured to shaft |02 is a crank arm H0, the-outer end of which carries a fixed pivot pin H2, adapted to be received in an elongated slot il@ formed in the outer end of an actuating rod H6 which extends to a remote point for operation to control the 0 interrupting means mounted on supports 2, 4

and 6. At the remote control point, actuating rod M8 may be fixed to a bracket H8, for example, as by bolts i8, with the bracket I8 being pivotally mounted as at |20 to one end of an actuating lever |22. Theactuating lever |22 is adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent pivot |28. on a shaft |24 supported by a bracket |26 secured in operative relation to a supporting wall or other vertical supporting member |30, for example, as by stud screws |28. The outer end of actuating lever |22 may beprovided with a handle portion |23 for manual operation, if desired. In order to normally bias the actuating means to an open circuit position, a rod |82 is pivotally connected to one toggle link |08, for example. as by the pivot pin 89, and is adapted to extend upwardly through bracket |00 where it is provided with a pair of springs supporting washers |34 and |38 for supporting therebetween a coil compression spring |40, maintained in a compressed condition by nut' |36 engaging with the upper threaded end of rod |32 to normally bias this rod for movement upward.

In the operation of the actuating means deand assuming that the switch is inthe closed circuitposition shown in Fig. 1 of the dra s, it will be ,noted that toggle links |04 and lare at an overcenter position where the upward biasI o! coil spring |40 acting through rod |32 on pivotj 66 tends to maintain the toggle links in' engagement with a ilxed stop |4|, welded or otherwise secured to angle support 6. Now, if actuating lever |22 clockwise direction about its pivot |24, it is obvious that rod I6 will thereby be moved upwardly, but no other parts of the mechanism will be moved until the lower end oi slot 4 provided in actuating rod ||6 abuts pivot pin 2 on crank arm ||0, or in other words. substantially 180 oi' movement of actuating lever tic-n shown in Fig. 1 will causing any movement of the switch to its open circuit position. However, as soon as the lower end of slot ||4 abuts pivot pin ||2, it will cause clockwise movement of crank 'arm |I0 about its pivot |02, carrying with it toggle link 04 until the toggle links 04 and |08 are moved over centrer, after which coil compression spring |40 will operate to quickly break the links to and beyond the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Furthermore, this movement ot the mechanism takes place independently oi' any movement oi' actuating rod I6 or lever |22. inasmuch as the pivot pin 2 during this movement will merely slide in slot I |4 in the actuating rod; This movement of the toggle levers obviously will is moved in a counter- |22 from the posibe necessary before assnaai as at |54. 'I'he outer ends of cause counter-clockwise movement of insulating g crank 96 and insulator 94, pin and slot connection tubef62, will cause this tube to move downwardly in castng 26 and interrupt the circuit in the manner-.- previously described.. .To reclose the circuit, it is obviously necessary merely to move actuating lever |22 in a plockwise directionv about its pivot shaft |24 to thereby move rod ||6 downwardly, and inasmuch as pivot pin ||2.on crank ||0 is already adjacent the upper end of slot 4,

which, by virtue o1' the wise direction together with shaft |02 and toggle link |04 to movethe toggle pivot |06 over center and against stop |4|, to thereby lock the operating mechanism in the open circuit position. It

66-90 'with insulating this crank arm will be moved in a counter-clockwill be noted that coil spring |40,when the switch is closed, exerts a biasin a direction to open the switch, but is normally prevented from operation by the toggle links |04 and |06 which, in effect, form a toggle latch whichv may be released by operating rod ||6 and lever |22, and also may be reset by this same means. However, when it is released, it operates quickly and independently of the manual tripping and resetting means |22 and ||6, to open the circuit through the current-interrupting means with a quick or snap action.

The supporting casing 26 on insulator I0 is also provided with forwardly extending supporting lugs |42 which may be integral with the top wall and the front guide extensions 80, for pivotally supporting a disconnecting switch blade |46. As shown, for example, in Fig. 3, the disconnecting switch blade 46 is provided at its lower end with resilient contact strips |41 positioned at opposite sides thereof and secured at one end to 3 electrical contact under pressure between the supporting casing 26 and the switch blade. The outer end o! switch blade |46 is also provided with contact plate portions |48 which may also be oi resilient 'materlaL it desired, plate portions are adapted to be received between the contact jaws 24 previously described, in the closed position of the switch. Adjacent, but spaced above, the pivot mounting |44 siiivitc'lohlade |46, there is provided an actuating D n tance from the blade on opposite sides thereof and secured thereto, for example, as by soldering, welding or the like. 'I'lie pin l|60 extends laterally of the blade so as to be engaged in slots provided in the arms` 62 ci the actuating bracket mounted on pivoted insulator 94. Figs. .1 and 2, the slot provided comprises an inner portion disposed Portion opening to As shown in in these arms |52 and an angularly one side o! each arm bracket arms 92 are connected by a cross-bar |53 which may be integral or xedly secured to adapted not ,only to prevent of the arms but also to engage the outer end of the blade |46 in the closed position of the switch to prevent accidental opening of the switch berelative movement fore the current-interrupting means hasopenedA the circuit.

It can now be seen that when `the operating means is actuated toy open the current-interrupting contacts 66-54within supporting casing 26, to open the circuit through the device, that adjacent the end oi' movement of pivoted insulator 94,'pin |50 on the switch'blade will enter' the angular portion |54 of the slot in actuating bracket arms 02, as shown in Fig, 2, whereupon continued movement of insulator 94 in a counterclockwise direction will cause opening movement interrupted rst by current-interrupting contacts 66 and 54, while the disconnecting switch blade remains stationary in a closed circuit position, and only thereafter it is moved to open the circuit air gap.

The interrupter may be.connected in circuit by having one conductor connected to"the lower portion 56 oi conductor rod 64, and the circuit through the device may be traced from conductor rod 54, through contactarms 66, supporting casing 26, switch blade |46, contact jaws 24 to terminal lug 20, to which may be attached the other conductor o1' the circuit.

In closing the circuit after an interrupting operation, the sequence of operation of the disconnecting switch blade and current-interrupting contacts is. just the reverse of the circuit-interthe blade, for example, as by rivet 5|, and the bla'de and contact strips are adapted to be positioned between supporting lugs |42 and secured for rotation withrespect to the lugs by a pivot c bolt |44 passing through the lugs, contact strips and blade. It will be noted that the contact strips |41 provide a means of obtaining a good rupting operation. That is, when the pivoted insulator is moved from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, clockwise to its fullline position, the rst thing `that occurs is movement of switch blade |46 into engagement with contact jaws 24 as insulating tube 82 gradually moves upwardly, and its movement tact arms 66 it moves from between conand permits them to close the blade has 'rst been moved into a closed circuit position. This particular sequence of extending outwardly a substantial dis-.

the arms and isl as vit approaches the end of ,after the disconnecting switch operation in both opening and closing the circult through the device obviously insures no arcing at the disconnecting switch contacts, and'fur- `ther insures that the circuit will always be first openedand finally closed at the currenteinterrupting contacts and lil, C A particular adya tage of this structure resides in the quick 'opening action of the interrupter underhe influence of coil spring |40 independently of the actuating means |22 and`||8. A quick opening o! the circuit is especially desirable to interrupt load currents, especially where a structure is employed such as that of applicants where the arc is elongated and conned to 'in crease the arc voltage. Obviously, the quicker this action can be made to attainvan arc voltage which asomar' current interrupting contacts, and means fixed on said blade member and positioned at 'a `point l inthe path oi' movement oi a portion of said lever will prevent restriking of the arc following a curjrent zero, the fewer cycles of arding will be obtained.

Applicant's current-interrupting means issubstantially enclosed in casing 2B, which is provided withthe vent slot 83 in cover plate 32 for laterally venting the gases generated by the arc in insulat, ing tube 42, away from the live parts of the circuit. It should alsobe noted that applicantv has provided a pair of circuit-interrupting means, one

- of which is in the nature of current-interrupting means and the other of which is in the nature of a disconnecting means, which are arranged in series circuit relation andwhich/are` adapted to be operated only in e. predetermined sequence, so that the current-interrupting means always operates to rst interrupt and finally close the circuit, together with a novel form of operating means to provide a quick opening of the circuit under a manual control, and which in the closed circuit position of the interrupter operates to positively maintain thedisconnecting means locked against opening movement until the current-interrupting means has previously operated to interrupt the circuit. This is due to the locking action of toggle levers mit and |98 which maintain connecting bar |53 on insulator 9S in a position to prevent opening movement of blade Hit. It should also'be noted that when the interrupter is in'lan open position, for example, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the disconnecting switch blade-again is positively prevented from reclosing unless the current-interrupting contactsare in an open circuit position. This, of course, is eiected by engagement of operating pin |50 in the slot i52 in the operating bracket on insulator @6. "f

Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it is desired that the invention be not limited to this particular form disclosed, inasmuch as it will be obvious particularly to persons skilled in the art that many changes and modiflcations may be made in this particular embodi- `ment without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, it is desired thatthe invention be interpreted as broadly as possible, and that it be limited only by the prior art and by what is expressly stated in the following cl'aimsi I claim as my invention:

l. In circuit interrupting means, a disconnecting switch including a blade member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a cooperating contact, current interrupting means adjacent said switch and including separable contacts connected in series circuit relation with said switch, actuating means including a pivoted lever having a direct` connection with said separable so as to be engaged therebyin a'circuit interrupting operation to move s'aid blade member away from saidcooperating contact only after said lever has moved a predetermined amount'to open said separable current interrupting contacts.

2. In circuit interrupting means, a disconnecting switch including a blade member mounted for movement into and out of'engagement with a cooperating contact, current interrupting means adjacent said switch and `including separable contacts connected in series circuit relation with said switch, actuating means including a pivoted lever having a direct connection with said separable current interrupting conta ts, means fixed on said blade member and positi ned at a point in the path of movement of a portion of said lever so as to be engaged thereby in a circuit inter. rupting operation to move said blade member away from said cooperating contact only after said lever haa moved a predetermined amount to open said separable current interrupting contacts, and whereby in a circuit closing operation said lever first moves said blade member into engagement with said cooperating contact and becomes 'disengaged from said blade member, prior to cioswitch, a pivoted actuating lever for opening and closing said separable contacts and directly connected to at least one of said separable contacts,

saidlever having a cam portion, and cam folff rlower means on said blade member positioned at a point in the path of movement oi' said cam portion but spaced therefrom in the closed circuit position, so that said cam follower means is engaged by said cam portion only after said lever in its circuit opening movement has opened said separable contacts.

4. In circuit interrupting means, a-disconnecting switch including a blade member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a cooperating contact, current interrupting means adjacent said switch and including separable contacts connected in series circuit relation with said switch, a pivoted actuating lever for opening and ,closing said separable contacts and directly con- -nected with atleast one of said separable contacts, said lever having an open-ended cam slot, cam follower means on said blade member positioned at a point in the path of movement of said cam portion but spaced therefrom in the closed circuit position, whereby in a circuit interrupting operation said blade member will be opened by said lever only after said leverin its circuit opening movement has opened said separable contacts.

5. Circuit interruptingmeans, including separable contacts, operating means including a pivoted operating lever for opening and closing said contacts, resilient means biasing said lever for movement in a direction to open said contacts, latch means normally preventing movement of said lever under the influence of said biasing means, and a control member having a lost motion connection with said operating means and operative upon movement in one direction to removement into and out Y 1 9,831,221 1 f lease said latch ineens and operative upon movein a direction to close said contacts and reset said l' ment in a direction to open said contacts, toggle means ovabl'e to an overcenter latching position for normally under the influence of said biasing means, and' a control member having a st motion connection with 'said toggle means, A upon movement in opposite directions to move said toggle means Jovercenter to said latching position and to a released position wherein said biasing means 'is' eii'ective to rapidly open 'said contacts. Y l

7. In circuit interrupting means, a pair of spaced insulating supports, contact means carried by one of said supports, current interrupting means and a switch blade mounted on the other of said supports, said switch blade mounted for of engagement with said contact means independent of said current in terrupting means,.said current interrupting means sociated with said including separable contacts connected in serial arrangement with said blade, operating means ascurrent inter 'pting means and operable in one direction to open said separable contacts, and said operating means being related tosaid blade in a manner such that it is operable to move said blade away from said contact means only upon continued movement of said operating means in the same direction after sep-i aration of said contacts.

8. In a Acircuit interrupter, a base, a pair of spaced insulating supports mounted on said base, contact means carried by one of said supports, current- `interrupting means and a switch blade mounted on the other of said supports, said switch blade mounted for movement into and out of engagement withtsaid contact means independent of said current interrupting means, said current interrupting means including separable contacts connected in serial arrangement with said blade, operating means associated'with said current interrupting means and movably mounted on said base so as to be operable in one direction to open said separable contacts. and said operating means being related to said blade in a manner such that it is operable to move said blade away from said contact means only upon continued movement of said operatingmeans in the same direction after separation of said contacts.

9. Incircuit interrupting means, a pair of spaced insulating supports, contact means carried by one of said supports, current interrupting means mounted .on the other of said supports, a switch blade mounted on said current interrupting means for movement into and out of engagement with said contact means, said current interrupting means including. separable contacts connected in serial arrangement withsaid blade, operating means associated with said current interrupting means and operable in one direction to open said separable contacts, and said operating' means being related to said blade in a manner such that it is operableto moye said blade away from said contact'means only upon f continued movement oi' said operating means in the same direction after separation of said contacts.

whereby it is eiiectiver 10. A disconnecting switch including blade preventing movement of said -lever engagement with said cooperating contact, biasing said operating means for movement in a direction to open said switch, and releasable latch means for normally preventing movement of said operating means under the influence of said bias ingV means.

l1. In circuit interrupting means, separable disconnecting contacts and current 'interrupting contacts arranged in series circuit relation, operating means for said contacts including a movably mounted actuatingmember having a direct connection to at least one oil said interrupting contacts and a lost motion connection with at least one of said disconnecting contacts, whereby said memberis movable circuit interrupting operation to first open said engageable with 13. In circuit interrupting means, a discon-v necting switch including a blade member mounted for movement into ,and out of engagement with a cooperating contact, currentJ interrupting means adJacent said switch and including separable contacts connected in series circuit relation with said switch, operating means for said switch and interrupting means including a member movable in one direction in a circuit interrupting operation to rst separate said current interrupting contacts and to thereafter move said blade member away from said cooperating'conl tact, said member being movable in an opposite direction in a circuit closing operation to first move said blade member into engagement with .said cooperating contact and to thereafter close said current interrupting contacts, "means biasing said member in said one direction,I latch means for normallyT preventing movement of lsaid member, and means for releasing said latch means to permit said biasing means to rapidly open said interrupting means and switch in succession, said last 4mentioned means being operable to reset said in one direction in a' member in latched position following a circuit interrupting operation.

rupting means, said current interrupting means lo including `separable contacts in series circuit with said blade, means of insulating material movable in a path extendingj between said supports and in a direction away from said contact means sup- .port to move between said`separable contacts to open the circuit therethrough, and operatingmeans operable in a circuit opening operation UDO!! mOV actuate said insulating 'means to open said separable current interrupting contacts while said 2,

blade member remains stationary, and to theres after move said blade vmember away from said cooperating contact.

S15. In circuit interrupting means, a pair oi spaced insulating supports, vcontact means carried by one of said supports, current interrupting means and a switch blade mounted on the other of said supports, said switch blade mounted for movement into and out of ergagement with said contact means independent of said current interrupting means, said current interrupting means including separable contacts in series circuit with said blade, means of insulating material movable in a path extending between said supports and in a direction away from said contact means support to'move between said contacts to open, the circuit therethrough and elongate the arc, other `means of insulating material forming with said movable insulating means a restricted arc passage having at least inner wall portions 40 of an insulating material which is capable of evolving an arc extinguishing gas when in proximity to an electric-arc, said arc passage extending in the direction of the path of movement of said movable insulating means, a yvent for said passage so that gases will be discharged therefrom at an angle to said path of movement, and operating means operable in a circuit opening operation upon movement thereof in one direction to actuate said movable insulating means to ilrst 5( open said separable current interrupting con-l tacts while said blade member remains stationary, and to thereafter move said blade member away from said cooperating contact.

16. In circuit interrupting means, spaced insulating supports, contact means carried by one of said supports, current interrupting means and a switch blade mounted on the other of said supports, said switch blade mounted for movement into andl out of engagement with said contact means, said current interrupting means including an enclosure mounted on said other support and extending ,therefrom in a direction away from. said one support, separable contacts in said enclosure connected in serial arrangement Awith said switch blade, operating means assooiated with said current interrupting means and operable in one direction to open said separable contacts, and said operatingmeans being related to said blade in a manner such that it is operable to move said iblade away from said contact means only upon continued movement of said operating means in the same direction.

i7. In circuit interrupting means, a pair of spaced insulating supports, contact means cargg' ement thereof. in 'one direction to ilrst tion with said switch, operating means for said a pair of 65 vried by one of said supports, current interrupting and movable into said enclosure to separate said separable contacts therein, and operating means operable in-a circuit opening operation upon movement thereof in one direction to ilrst actuate said insulating means to open said separable current interrupting contacts while said blade member remains stationary. and to thereafter move said blade member away from said cooperating contact.3

18. In circuit interrupting means, a disconnecting switch including ablade member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a cooperating contact, current interrupting means adjacent said switch and including separable contacts connected in series circuit relaswitch and interrupting means,l said operating means including an actuating member directly connected with at least one of said separable contacts, spaced stop portions on said blade member between which said actuating member is movable, means for locking said actuating member in closed circuit position in engagement with one of said stop portions to prevent movement of said blade member out of engagement with saidsy cooperating contact, said actuating member biased to move in a direction to open the circuit, whereby upon release of said locking means said actuating member, moves between said stop portions 'to separate said separable contacts and thereafter engages the other of said stop portions to move said blade member out oi.' engagement with said cooperating contact.

19. In circuit interrupting means, a pair of spaced insulating supports, contact means scar- Y ried by one of said supports, current interrupting vmeans and a switch blade mounted on the other of said supports, said current interrupting means including separable contacts, said switch blade mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said contact means, and a tiltably mounted insulator having a direct connection with said separable contacts and a lost motion connection with said blade.

20. In circuit interrupting means,la disconnecting switch including a blade member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a cooperating contact, operating means for said switch, said operating means including an actuating member, spaced stop portions on said blade member between which said actuating member is movable, means for locking said actuating member in closed circuit position in engagement with one of said stopportions to prevent movement of said blade member out of engagement with said cooperating contact, said actuating member biased to move in a direction to open the circuit, whereby upon release of said locking means saidactu'ating member moves between said stop portions to engage the other of said stop portions with `an impact and move said blade out of engagement with said cooperating contact.

ENNIO oafrnnsr. 

